Brake lever construction



y 3, 1939. H. s. JANDUS Er AL 59,799

BRAKE LEVER C ONS TRUCT I ON Filed Aplfil s, 1957 l I mm llilllIilfiii l J HERBERT 5. JANDUS RAY A. SANDBERG merits 'of the present actuating memberin normalpositionjelosinglthe 1 assignments, to :"Hbudaille-Hershey Corpora tion, Detroit, l\fich., a corporation of Michigan T The ,present invention relates. to brakemlever construction andmore particularlyflto means for closing the free end of a lever without apply-, ing a cap to such end. In the manufactureoi. brake levers from 1 sheet material ,by stamping. and like operations the matter,,of,c1osing. or fl pping theiree endsjof the levers; thatiathe free ends -o f th e grip portions ofthezlevers, amounts to appreciable items of expense as .additionala,manufacturingoperations are necessary.

It desirable. to dose the extrernitiesflofthef free tends of i such levers to protect the operators 7 to their hands in manipulatingnthew from"'inj 1 1ry The present invention provides closure. means for the: ends of stamped levers {which closure, means may be economically .manufactured and which serve to fully protect the .operators hands fi'ominjury when operatingthe levers. a s v to, pro-H bje t t e, res nt iIii nt on i vide novel means for closing the open', freelends oi bra material.

Anotherfoloj ectfof a gre te intellect; is to providea'novel closure" for the open free end of a t? 12 41 3191 .Q lQL hali dflb levei, jwlii 'chf closure is eeo'nomieal' to lmanufactare-"and Jefficient for thepurpose intended,

u th dbif t, heflpr se fi nven io isv to brovide a iirqtetivqcovering fer; the open @end i w rme bra e lev r hi hfc ta n effeetuah ly prtjte'cts theoperators hand fro njury.v

Generally speaking th inventiio coniempats the" provision of acl utoh or latchrelease actuat-I mg member provided with a part adapted to nor:

anybveniethe free end 'iof the grip pprtipn of a' lever; A v he The above other andfurther olojects of the present invention will be clearly, apparent from the iollowing description and aceompanying drawing, e l r H e v The accompanying drawing illustrates embodi:

thereof areas 'ronbws: v

\ Figure 1 is an elevational edge vievv of a ,l orake lever constructed in accordance with the prin ciplesp'f the present invention and showingthe tion and partially in elevation of the lever of Figureli showing the relationship of the parts levers which ar jfashioned from, sheet.v

i v t on an jv ew 1 'igiir' 3'i's a rm'gmentar View; bartially in'section andpartiallyin elevation of theupper endof the lever of Eigure z showing the part with? the lever in fsetiposition, 1 a a Figure fl. is a. fragmentalrview artially in lon= gitudinalQseetioh ,,.and -partial1y in. elevation, of anotherform of 'the presentinventionv Figure 5 .is an enlargedtransverse sectional view taken substantially in the-planeindicatedyfllin jvrev of F u e Figure 6 is 0 an enlarged transverse sectional. view taken substantially in the plane indicated. byline Vi -VI ofl liigure 4. I l ,lii j'l i avie pa a v eleva nd partially in central H seetion,, of fragmental po'rtions ofa brake lever showing a still furthermode. ifieation of thepresent invention, with lapproxir mately half pf the actuating memberillustrated., The dr w n w .nqwjbe .eXmained- 1 The b ak eve fi a n ta exem iiy t e presenti invention has lgeen illustrate as utilizing a swing: ing. sector qr ratchet ltjis to a be understood ha he i yent en s gamb p a ationcitoh er elfli rni uthen ha how iqr.ex.- m la afsrm. ha n x la chet; l

he lever herein illustrated is of WP? 19 nc e 5%. ,v ppv iil P 5112 J a p in the well known manner; for attaehment to n 'l fibie9 v icle h n it e n men ard the upperend of the leverbecomeparallel legs.

the dig t:

\ 1 erbals; Jandus,'f1 troit;Mich;anemia: Sandberg; Waukegan, 111., assigiiorsgby mesne Y fiend/6 i Pi tal eehm t-as b m an o a a a ui bl in lwtqth p n a n-A l a f v t etfi w h. e sefih .lev r,.i j a wi ing or oscillating ratchet member 9 having, a erie 9f t et, teet qr d an lie a e e t on. pill ma ins Pieks l ce e e at similarjengisto the plate l as by a p iv.0t or pin d an the-o pos e nd -by me o a u t-. able pivot I3 to the ratchet member .9, .cause the mber 9. s l ate. a ou t Rive 8, a t er is s in u qi v thes t e te t t th res t th mint enga Ramjet the pawl.

pawl 4 i v t d- 0, th v r by me 's a tubular pivot lfi and at one end has a point l6 for making latehing engagement with any one of the teeth of the ratchet [0 the eleinenri or memberil. l

A latch release member, preferably of han'hl or U-shape throughout the major portion of its length, and formedwith a web IT and' s ide'vvalls l8 and I9 is pivotally 'onncted atitsuppefend.

to the pawl member l4 by means of a suitable pivot 20. As illustrated the latch release member I1 is arranged in assembled relation with respect to the lever so that the walls of the latch release member Work within the side walls of the lever.

A pawl actuating member indicated generally as A is fashioned from fiat sheet metal to provide a structure which, in elevation, is substantially L-shaped and in transverse section, is channel or U-shaped. As formed the pawl actuating member A has a grip portion 2| which extends generally in the direction of the length of the lever from its free end toward its pivoted end and lies along the grip portion of the lever. The side walls of an angular part of the actuating member A designated at 22 and 23 are laterally spaced and work within the side walls of the lever adjacent the free end of the lever. These walls 22 and 23 are pivotally attached as by means of a suitable pivot 24 to the lever, closely adjacent its free end, so that the pawl actuating member A may rock about the pivot 24 in use.

The lower end of the latch release member I! is pivoted at 25 to the pawl actuating member A, in the neighborhood of the angle between the arms of this member.

In order to maintain the latch release .member II, the pawl actuating member A in one position, and the pawl in latched engagement with the ratchet member 9, spring means are utilized.

The form of spring illustrated is secured at one end 26 to a portion of the lever, the end being shown as passing through an opening 21 in the web of the lever and its other end 28 is hooked through an opening 29 in the web of the latch release member IT. This spring is a tension spring and normally maintains the parts with the pawl in latched engagement with its ratchet so as to hold the lever in adjusted position.

The form of lever construction shown in Figures 2 and 3 is that in which the pawl pivot lies between its ratchet engaging point l6 and its point of connection to the latch release member I1.

Fig. 4 illustrates another form of the invention wherein the pawl 30 is pivoted to the lever by means of a hollow tubular pivot 3| at one end of the pawl, the other end of the pawl being provided with a point 32 for effecting latching engagement with the ratchet.

In this form of invention, the actuating member A is pivoted at 33 to ears 34, 35 which project from the walls 36 and 3! respectively of this form of lever, adjacent the free end of the lever.

This actuating member A is substantially right-angular in side elevation and with a portion extending within the channel of the grip portion of the lever where pivotal connection is made at 38 with a latch release member 39. The other end of the latch release member 39 is pivoted at 40 to the pawl 30.

In this form of the invention, a spring 4| is connected between the lever and the latch release member in such manner as to normally maintain the pawl in latched engagement with its ratchet.

The lower end of the grip portion of the lever of Fig. 2 is embossed at 42, while the lower end of the lever of Fig. 4 is embossed at 43 to provide bulges at the free ends of the levers for the operators hands when grasping the levers to operate them.

It l b ob r ed h th free e d of t e levers of Figs. 2 and 4 are open.

In order to provide closures for the free ends of the levers, the actuating member A is provided with a part 43 which normally closes the extremity of the free end of the lever 2 of Fig. 2.

The actuating member A of Fig. 4 is likewise provided with a part 44 which normally closes the open free end of the lever of this form.

Figs. 2 and 4 show the actuating members A and A respectively in normal position, with the parts 43 and 44 forming covers or closures for the open extremities of the free ends of the levers.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '7 includes an angularly shaped, actuating member A made from sheet metal stock. The portion of the actuating member A which overlies the free end of the extremity of the lever is cup shaped as at 48. Secured to the interior of the cup shaped portion of the actuating member is a strap 49 which has the adjacent end of the latch release member 50 secured to it as for example by having the extremity of the member 50 pass through an opening in the strap and headed at 5!. Sufficient play between the strap 49 and the release member 50 is permitted to prevent the parts from binding in use. In this form of the invention, the latch release member 50 is attached to the strap 49 and the strap 49 is then secured to the interior of the cup 48 of the actuating member A as by welding or any other suitable method, whereupon the parts are assembled, the upper end of the latch member 50 is attached to its pawl and then the actuating member A is secured by its pivot 4'! in operative position.

It will be observed that the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 7 shows an actuating member formed as a stamping, which is angular in side elevation and channel shape in cross section or profile. The actuating member is so arranged with respect to the open end of the grip portion of the lever member that the open end is concealed at all times and that the actuating member is shaped to surround the open end of the grip portion of the lever for a distance of at least approximately one-half of the peripheral extent of said end.

The release rod 50 instead of being connected to the actuating member A as shown in Figure 7, might be pivotally connected to it in the manner suggested and shown in the forms of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

It will be observed that the present invention provides a pawl actuating member which at the same time forms a closure or cover for the extremity of the free end of the lever, making unnecessary the capping operation heretofore requisite in connection with the manufacture of formed or capped levers.

The actuating members may be readily manufactured from fiat sheet material, by stamping or like processes, providing the grip portions, the attaching legs and the closure members for the extremities of the levers, without appreciable waste, thereby reducing cost of manufacture of such levers.

,In the commercial field, such levers are sold on competitive basis so that any economy of manufacture which may be eifected is reflected in lower prices to the consumer and increased profits to the manufacturer.

In the operation of the present invention, when it is desired to move a lever from off position to set position, the operator grasps the grip portion of the lever which is the lower portion as shown in the drawing and swings it in counterposition, and a stamping comprising an actuating member angular in side elevation and of channel shape in cross section pivoted to said {I o rfeleas the. brake,- -the ,operatp r presses the ortion lot theactuating member toward the v ortion of mei e'ver whereupon; the; pawl-is unlatched .rrom its :2 ratchet and l the lever -re turnedlto ofi' position, the, operation, of: course,

during this movement l maintaining squeezingpressure on .',the grip aportions ,ofthe, actuating member and lever; soon as he releases his gripping 1 pressure the spring becomes effective v to return the actuating member to normalposition and to cause latching engagement of the pawl with itsratchet.- ,7

It will-be-observed thatfithe construction of the present invention very' readily provides a closure for the free end of a lever of such nature as to at all times protect the operator against injury which might otherwise be occasioned if the free end of the lever were not closed.

The reason for closing the free ends of the levers is to prevent injury to the operator, as sometimes there is a possibility of the free ends of the levers having slightly roughened parts I which might scratch the hand of an operator or be the cause for his tearing some portion of his clothing on the levers. With the free ends closed or covered as contemplated by the present invention, all such hazards are eliminated.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as' follows:

1. An emergency brake lever construction for automotive vehicles including a stamping comprising a lever member having hollow shank and grip portions with the extremity of the grip portion open, a pawl release member working within the hollow shank and grip portions, means cooperating with said release member to latch and unlatch said lever member, spring means normally maintaining said release member in one lever member closely adjacent the open end of said grip portion and having a palm engaging manipulating part extending along the grip portion of said lever member and having another prising a lever member having hollow shank and grip portions with the free end extremity of the grip portion open and unfinished, a pawl release member working within the hollow shank and grip portions, means cooperating with said release member to;-lat c hand unlatch-said lever; member, springmeans normally maintaining said release member in one'position and astamping-comprising an actuating member angular in side elevation and of channelshape in cross section pivotedto said lever member closely adjacent the-open'end of;saidgrip portion and having-a manipulating part. extending along the grip portion of said levermernber and having another part extending substantially across -the open endof said lever memberand constitutinga closure for said endand positioned to conceal said open end and to prevent-injury to-a hand, ofwan operator while manipulating said actuating "member and lever member; said release-memberbeing operably connected to said'actuatingmember inwardly of said another part of said latter member, a

3. In combination, an automotive vehicle emer gency brake lever comprisinga member having a hollowgri-p portion whichis open'at its free end, a pawl releasememberworking within said grip portion and an actuating member pivoted to said lever-member closely adjacent-the open end of said grip portion and having a manipulating part extending along said grip portion and having an angular part extending across said open end and constituting a closure for said open end, said release member being positively connected to said actuating member in such manner that the connection is concealed from view by said angular part.

4. In combination, an automotive emergency brake lever having a grip portion formed with its free end open and unfinished, clutch means operative through said grip portion of said lever member, and a stamping comprising an actuating member angular in side elevation and of channel shape in cross section pivoted to said lever member closely adjacent the open end of said grip portion of said lever member and shaped toperipherally surround the grip portion adjacent said open end for a distance at least 180 of the peripheral extent of said end.

5. In combination with an automotive vehicle emergency brake lever having a grip portion formed with its free end'open, of a stamping comprising an actuating member angular in side elevation and of channel shape in cross section which channel is closed at one end, said member being pivoted to the lever member adjacent said open end and arranged with one end of said actuating member overlying said open end and the channel walls of said one end peripherally encompassing at least substantially half the peripheral extent of said open end to thereby conceal said end as said member is rocked.

6. An emergency brake lever for automotive vehicles including a lever member having a hollow interior and with the end of the grip extremity open and unfinished, a latch release member working within the hollow of said lever member and urged to one position by resilient return means, and an actuating member for said release member of angular form in side elevation pivoted to said lever member closely adjacent said open end and having a manipulating part lying along the grip portion of said lever member and having another part projecting across said open end and in concealing and protecting position and lat erally encompassing a portion of the periphery of said open end.

7. A mechanism control comprising in combination, a support, a lever member formed to substantially U-shaped cross section throughout its length and including a grip portion at one end and being pivoted at the other end to said support, cooperating clutching members having 00'- operating clutching surfaces to hold said lever member in adjusted position, a clutch releasing member actuator comp-rising a stamping angular in side elevation and pivoted to said lever member closely adjacent the extremity of the grip portion. and having a palm engaging part extend ing along the grip portion of the lever member and overlying and concealing the slot of the grip portion and having another part extending substantially across and over the open end of said grip portion to constitute a closure for said end, a clutch releasing member operative within the slot of said lever member and connected at one end to said actuator and at the other end connected to one of said clutching members, and spring means for urging said clutching members to clutching position.

8. A mechanism control comprising in combination, a support, a lever member comprising a stamping forming shank and. grip portions slotted from end to end of said portions and having spaced legs at one end opposite the grip portion constituting a fulcrum region by which said lever member is pivoted to said support, cooperating clutching members pivoted to said lever member between said legs and having cooperating clutching surfaces to hold said lever member in adjusted position, a clutch releasing member actuator comprising a stamping angular in side elevation and pivoted to said lever member closely adjacent the extremity of the grip portion and having a palm engaging part extending along the grip portion of the lever and overlying and concealing the slot of said grip portion and having another part extending substantially across and over the open end of said grip portion to constitute a closure for said end, a clutch releasing member operative within the slot of said l'ever member and grip portion and connected at one end to said actuator and at the other end to one of said clutching members, and means acting on said clutch releasing member for urging said clutching members to clutching position.

HERBERT s. JANDUS. RAY A. SANDBERG. 

